International Business Machines Corporation

Other

Edward George Butt

Steven Douglas Johnson

Vernon John Legvold

Ronald David Martens

Tony Jing Zhang

Jack Harvey Derenburger

David N Mora

Jeffrey E Ferrier

Jed L Dyreng

David Lee Swanson

Alex Chliwnyj

Franck Excoffier

A technique for updating elements in a data storage facility, including a single server or a multi-server system, such as by providing updated internal code packages to the elements. The update is performed using a fixed state machine, where the elements are updated in a coordinated manner within the constraints of the state machine. In a multi-server device, code packages are distributed to elements associated with the different servers in one traversal of the state machine, during distribute states of the state machine. The distributed code packages are activated in activate states of the state machine in multiple traversals of the state machine, so there is a serial activation. The code packages can be grouped in a flexible way by configuring an external update bundle used by the state machine. The distributing of the code is based on the grouping.

Updating elements in a data storage facility using a predefined state machine, with serial activation

A technique for updating elements in a data storage facility, including a single server or a multi-server system, such as by providing updated internal code packages to the elements. The update is performed using a fixed state machine, where the elements are updated in a coordinated manner within the constraints of the state machine. In a multi-server device, the code packages are distributed to elements associated with the different servers in one traversal of the state machine, during distribute states of the state machine. The distributed code packages are activated in activate states of the state machine in one traversal of the state machine, so there is parallel activation. The code packages can be grouped in a flexible way by configuring an external update bundle used by the state machine. The distributing of the code is based on the grouping.

Updating elements in a data storage facility using a predefined state machine, with parallel activation

A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for the automatic recovery from errors encountered during an automated Licensed Internal Code (LIC) update on a storage controller. The present invention functions with a concurrent or nonconcurrent automated LIC update. The automated recovery from many error conditions is transparent to the attached host system and on-site service personnel, resulting an improvement in the LIC update process.

Automated error recovery of a licensed internal code update on a storage controller

A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for the automatic recovery from errors encountered during an automated Licensed Internal Code (LIC) update on a storage controller. The present invention functions with a concurrent or nonconcurrent automated LIC update. The automated recovery from many error conditions is transparent to the attached host system and on-site service personnel, resulting in an improvement in the LIC update process.

A system, method and article of manufacture are provided to perform an automated concurrent licensed internal code (LIC) update and an automated nonconcurrent LIC update on a storage controller. The automated concurrent LIC update is performed on a storage controller by sequentially updating each cluster while maintaining operation of the storage controller. The automated concurrent LIC update allows multiple hosts to continue to access data via the storage controller while the system is actively undergoing the LIC update. The automated nonconcurrent LIC update is performed during the time the storage controller in not operating. The automated nonconcurrent LIC update allows service personnel to perform the update in an efficient and timely manner. When the update has completed, the storage controller becomes available to process data and the system is operating at the latest LIC level.

Automated control of a licensed internal code update on a storage controller

Calibration of magnetic tape servo index positions, which are laterally offset from edges and measured by ratios of dissimilar servo signals. A defined signal is injected into the track following servo to modulate the lateral position of the servo sensor, which is detected by an independent position sensor. Logic converts the detected lateral positions and servo signals to frequency components; selects injected signal frequency components; converts the selected frequency components to lateral positions and servo signals, and fits a curve to the converted lateral positions with respect to the converted servo signals to calibrate the index positions.

Defined signal injection to calibrate servo index positions employing an independent position sensor

A sampler gathers a portion of borehole cuttings being discharged during a mining drilling operation. The unconfined cuttings are discharged over the sampler while falling to ground surface surrounding the borehole. The sampler diverts a small portion of the flow over two receptacles which are sized to hold a desired volume of cuttings. The receptacles shuttle back and forth over a discharge chute, periodically depositing the desired volume of cuttings into a cuttings container, for subsequent chemical analysis to determine the nature of the ore. A signal derived from the drillstring shaft revolution rate controls the receptacles, so that a sampling is taken at regular drilling depth intervals. A constant, small sample is thus held aside for analysis which is more representative of the soil strata than is a sample obtained by a conventional manual coring operation.

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Tucson, AZ, United States of America

Edward George Butt